It’s about time to find out whether Draymond Green’s prediction of a Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics 2022 NBA Finals showdown is right on the money. The Celtics can steal a win in South Beach to set up a date in the finals with the Warriors, but that will be easier said than done against the Miami Heat on the road.
Catch this game live on Monday, May 30, at 8:30 AM, Manila time
Away: Boston Celtics (3–3/1-2 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Marcus Smart
- SG: Jaylen Brown
- SF: Jayson Tatum
- PF: Grant Williams
- C: Robert Williams
The Celtics have to forget their debacle in their 111-103 home loss to Miami, but they should learn lessons from it. While Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 50 points in that contest the duo coughed up the ball 11 times. Tatum and Brown are always going to have high usages, but they can’t let their errors cancel the things that they do so well on offense; among Celtics players who are averaging at least 16 minutes per game in the conference finals, Tatum and Brown are only fifth and sixth in terms of net rating.
The top three guys? Those are Payton Pritchard, Al Horford, and Robert Williams III, who will all likely have significant roles this Monday. Game 7s are always a time to shine for players coming out of nowhere, and that could be Pritchard – or Derrick Williams, who already exploded for 22 points with four 3-pointers in Game 6.
The Celtics ar 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games after a loss.
Home: Miami Heat (3-3/2-1 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- PG: Kyle Lowry
- SG: Max Strus
- SF: Jimmy Butler
- PF: PJ Tucker
- C: Bam Adebayo
Jimmy Butler played so well in Game 6 that Kyle Lowry had to go full-NSFW in the postgame press conference, completely in awe of his teammate’s performance. Butler posted Miami LeBron-esque playoff numbers of 47 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, while shooting 16/29 from the field. But will there be enough gas left in the tank of Bulter just enough for him to help tow Miami back to the NBA Finals for the second time in three seasons? Regardless, Lowry, Bam Adebayo, Max Strus, and Victor Oladipo all have to step up, especially if Tyler Herro fails to get suit up again.
Herro is currently labeled questionable because of a groin injury that has sidelined him for the past two games. Adebayo scored just6 points and had 4 turnovers in Game 6 and luckily for him, Butler put on his cape to cover up for the big man’s atrocious showing. It’s a big plus of course that the Heat will play Game 7 at home, where they are 9-3 ATS in the last 12 games.
PREDICTIONS:
Spread: Celtics cover (-2.5).
Over/Under: Taking the Under (195.5) here.
